Press Releases
SFH on healthcare reform second stage public consultation report
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media stand-up session in
the Legislative Council Building today (July 11):
Reporter: (About regulating private health insurance)
Secretary for Food and Health: The essence of regulating insurance,
particularly in medical insurance, is to ensure that there is transparency
in the use of the collected premium, particularly on how it is being
distributed among different users and patients, and how much of it is
actually being used on administration and so on. We feel that the future
insurance authority would have to gather all these data and information from
insurance companies, private hospitals and private doctors. So we know
exactly how the money is being spent, so that we can have a judgement and
also analysis every year. We can ensure the premium would not escalate
unnecessarily and also it would be set at a reasonable level.
Reporter: (About regulating private health insurance)
Secretary for Food and Health: I think the simple answer is if we do not do
anything, the private sector would still benefit and benefit without any
control. So I think it is important for us to set up certain regulations for
them. But at the same time, we still leave certain freedom and certain
freedom of choice for consumers and patients to have a choice of hospitals
and doctors. Our scheme would ensure that those people, most likely the
middle class with fixed income, would have the protection as they desired so
that when they go into hospital, they do not worry there would be a lot of
surcharges they have to pay.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, July 11, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:35
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